The Government wants to slash smoking rates by a quarter by 2022 by urging millions to switch to e-cigarettes

Under ambitious new plans, health bosses also intend to halve smoking in pregnancy from the current 10.7 per cent.

Around 80,000 Brits a year – more than 200 a day – die as a result of tobacco.

As part of the new Tobacco Control Plan, health bosses will promote e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to traditional fags.

Ministers also want to cut regular smoking among 15-year-olds from eight per cent to three per cent.

Campaigners Ash predict the UK could be smoke free – with less than one in 20 lighting up – by 2030.

Public Health Minister Steve Brine said: “Britain is a world-leader in tobacco control, and our tough action in the past decade has seen smoking rates in England fall to an all-time low of 15.5 per cent.